Bubble machine
A bubble machine having a housing, a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening of the housing, a fan positioned inside the housing, and a motor positioned inside the housing and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator. Actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bubble toys, and in particular, to a bubble generating machine which automatically generates numerous bubbles at the same time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bubble producing toys are very popular among children who enjoy producing bubbles of different shapes and sizes. Many bubble producing toys have previously been provided. Perhaps the simplest example has a stick with a circular opening or ring at one end, resembling a wand. A bubble solution film is produced when the ring is dipped into a dish that holds bubble solution or bubble producing fluid (such as soap) and then removed therefrom. Bubbles are then formed by blowing carefully against the film. Such a toy requires dipping every time a bubble is to created, and the bubble solution must accompany the wand from one location to another.
Recently, the market has provided a number of different bubble generating assemblies that are capable of producing a plurality of bubbles. Examples of such assemblies are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,486 (Thai), U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,130 (Thai) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,184 (Rich et al.). The bubble rings in the bubble generating assemblies in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,486 (Thai), U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,130 (Thai) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,184 (Rich et al.) need to be dipped into a dish that holds bubble solution to produce films of bubble solution across the rings. The motors in these assemblies are then actuated to generate air against the films to produce bubbles.
All of these aforementioned bubble generating assemblies require that one or more bubble rings be dipped into a dish of bubble solution. In particular, the child must initially pour bubble solution into the dish, then replenish the solution in the dish as the solution is being used up. After play has been completed, the child must then pour the remaining solution from the dish back into the original bubble solution container. Unfortunately, this continuous pouring and re-pouring of bubble solution from the bottle to the dish, and from the dish back to the bottle, often results in unintended spillage, which can be messy, dirty, and a waste of bubble solution.
Thus, there remains a need to provide an apparatus for automatically generating multiple bubbles without the need for a user to repeatedly dip the bubble ring into a dish of bubble solution.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for generating multiple bubbles in a convenient and clean manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for generating multiple bubbles at the same time.
The objectives of the present invention are accomplished by providing a bubble machine having a housing, a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening of the housing, a fan positioned inside the housing, and a motor positioned inside the housing and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator. Actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
The present invention also provides a bubble generator having a plurality of separate and spaced-apart sections, with at least one section having at least two bubble rings provided thereat. The bubble rings can positioned one on top of the other when the section is aligned vertically. In addition, the bubble rings at a section can have different sizes and shapes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.
The front housing frame 22 has a front opening 28 through which generated bubbles BB can be released. Referring to
An on/off switch 64 is provided at the top of the front housing frame 22. A switch assembly 66 is provided adjacent the switch 64 inside the front housing frame 22, and is operatively coupled to the switch 64 in the manner described in connection with
The bubble generator 40 is illustrated in
The rear housing frame 24 has a grilled opening 90 that allows air to be received into the housing. A power source 92 (which can include a plurality of conventional batteries) is secured to the rear housing frame 24.
Referring to
The motor 106 is electrically coupled to the power source 92 via a first wire 114, a second wire 116 couples an electrical contact 117 of the switch assembly 66 and the motor 106, and a third wire 118 couples the power source 92 to an electrical contact 120 of the switch assembly 66, which is adapted to releasably contact the other electrical contact 117 to form a closed electrical circuit.
The fan 44 has a plurality of blades 122 that are spaced apart around a hub 124. The gear system 110 has a plurality of gears 126, 128, 130, 132 that are operatively coupled to a worm gear 134 that is carried on a shaft 136 of the motor 106, and a worm gear 138 that is provided at an inner end of the drive shaft 48.
The switch assembly 66 has a housing 150 with the electrical contact 117 fixedly secured to one side of the housing 150, and with the electrical contact 120 movably attached to another side of the housing 150. The housing 150 retains therein a hook member 152 (see also
The sliding plate 156 has a guide member 168. The guide member 168 has two angled outside surfaces 170, 172 that are connected to form an outer V-shaped configuration. The guide member 168 also has two angled inner surfaces 174, 176 that are connected to form an inner V-shaped configuration, with the angled inner surface 176 having a corner edge 178. A further angled surface 180 connects the corner edge 178 and the top of the angled surface 172.
The guide member 168 is adapted to releasably engage the hook member 152 so as to open and close the electrical circuit. This is best illustrated in
When the user presses the switch 64 again, the electrical circuit will be opened to turn off the machine 20. See
The operation of the bubble machine 20 will now be described. First, the user can introduce bubble solution into the reservoir 56 via the front opening 28. Some of the bubble rings 76 and 78 of the bubble generator 40 are always positioned inside the reservoir 56 (see
When the user wishes to turn on the bubble machine 20, the user merely presses the switch 64 a first time. This closes the electrical circuit in the manner described above in connection with
When the user wishes to turn off the bubble machine 20, the user merely presses the switch 64 a second time. This opens the electrical circuit in the manner described above in connection with
Thus, the present invention provides a bubble machine 20 where the air generator (i.e., fan 44) and the bubble generator 40 can be simultaneously actuated. The present invention also provides a bubble machine 20 that has a single button 64 that can function to turn the machine 20 on and off.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a hollow interior and a front opening;
- a bubble generator positioned adjacent the front opening;
- a fan positioned inside the hollow interior;
- a motor positioned inside the hollow interior and operatively coupled to the fan and the bubble generator; and
- wherein actuation of the motor causes the fan and the bubble generator to be simultaneously actuated.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator is positioned inside the hollow interior.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator comprises a plurality of double-rings.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a reservoir positioned adjacent the front opening for retaining bubble solution.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bubble generator is partially positioned in the reservoir.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bubble generator rotates when it is actuated.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bubble generator rotates when it is actuated.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
- a power source; and
- a switch operatively coupled to the power source and the motor for actuating the motor.
9. The apparatus of claim 4, further including a bubble generator housing positioned adjacent the front opening, wherein:
- the bubble generator housing defines the reservoir,
- the bubble generator is retained inside the bubble generator housing, and
- an air opening is defined in the bubble generator housing.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a gear system that couples the motor to the bubble generator.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a switch assembly coupled to the switch, with the switch assembly allowing for the motor to be turned on and off by merely pressing the switch.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch is positioned at the top of the housing.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator comprises a plurality of rings, with each ring having a thickness and having a cylindrical configuration.
14. The bubble generator of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator has a plurality of separate and spaced-apart sections, with at least one section has at least two bubble rings provided thereat, and wherein the bubble rings at the one section have different sizes.
15. The bubble generator of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator has a plurality of separate and spaced-apart sections, with at least one section has at least two bubble rings provided thereat, and wherein the bubble rings at the one section have different shapes.
16. The bubble generator of claim 1, wherein the bubble generator has a plurality of bubble rings, each having a diameter that is greater than one inch.
17. A bubble generator comprising a plurality of separate and spaced-apart sections, wherein at least one section has at least two bubble rings provided thereat.
18. The bubble generator of claim 17, wherein each bubble ring has a thickness and having a cylindrical configuration.
19. The bubble generator of claim 17, wherein each bubble ring has a body with ridges provided thereon.
20. The bubble generator of claim 17, wherein the bubble rings at the one sections are positioned one on top of the other when the section is aligned vertically.
21. The bubble generator of claim 17, wherein the bubble rings at the one section have different sizes.
22. The bubble generator of claim 17, wherein the bubble rings at the one section have different shapes.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 8, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 9, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7144291
Inventor: Douglas Thai (Walnut, CA)
Application Number: 10/936,174
International Classification: A63H 33/28 (20060101);